Robins Bring Home Trinity

Replay needed to do the job. Report by David Robinson

A replay will be needed to decide who takes the place in the first round proper of the FA Trophy after a goalless encounter in Lincolnshire. The Martin & Co. Stadium was the venue and with the game starting in blustery conditions Ashton had the wind at their backs in the first period and recalled Greg Pearson at left back in place of the suspended Steven Mason.

Joe Connor was back in central defence and it was he who committed himself allowing Simon Russell to turn and fire over a cross which was cleared by Jay Gorton, shortly afterwards Jeff King made his way to the by line and tricked his way past Jake Picton before firing right across the area. A perceptive pass by Mark Lees then picked out Adam Morning and his cross saw Joel Melia’s effort blocked before the ball came back to Melia who forced a low save out of ex-Stalybridge keeper Jan Budtz.

Captain Jay Gorton was then booked following a clash with Darryn Stamp and it was Gorton who sliced the resulting free kick from Stephen Brogan over his own bar before a quick break saw Cavell Coo play in Martin Pilkington whose shot deflected up off Josh Lacey and required Budtz to claw the ball away from the goal line. With conditions worsening after the break sheeting rain joined the prevailing wind and control was put at a premium and Brogan’s long clearance gave Stamp a run in on goal but his attempted lob was wayward in direction.

Both sides then went close to breaking the deadlock, firstly Trinity as Jamie Yates sent a cross skidding into the area and saw Stamp denied close in by Phillips and then immediately Pilkington played Jeff King wide and then met his cross 6 yards out only to scuff his side foot effort wide from 6 yards out. Joel Melia then rounded a defender only to see his effort blocked by a sliding challenge from Dominic Roma.

With torrential rain getting heavier by the minute both sides appear to settle for a draw although the hosts could still have grabbed the win as a throw-in saw Liam Davis’s pull back from the by line present Stamp with an open goal which he put well past the far post.